Page:The Tenant of Wildfell Hall (emended first edition), Volume 2.djvu/165

Rh "I would rather kiss its mother," replied he, embracing me. "There now; won't that do as well?"

I resumed my seat in the easy chair, and gave my little one a shower of gentle kisses to make up for its other parent's refusal.

"There goes!" cried the jealous father. "That's more, in one minute, lavished on that little senseless, thankless, oyster, than you have given me these three weeks past."

"Come here then, you insatiable monopolist, and you shall have as many as you like, incorrigible and undeserving as you are.—There now, won't that suffice? I have a good mind never to give you another till you have learnt to love my baby as a father should."

"I like the little devil—"

"Arthur!"

"Well, the little angel—well enough," and he pinched its delicate little nose to prove his affection, "only I can't love it—what is there to love? It can't love me—or you either; it